Student Spotlight: Alvin Andino '15

Why Union:I'm a Posse Scholar, and I chose Union from among all the Posse schools because it was good for engineering, which was my original interest. After my first visit, I knew I wanted this school. I liked how people treat each other – everyone was so nice and courteous.

Most inspiring class:

Discrete Math. The professor, Kimmo Rosenthal, uses real world examples, and he’s very approachable. It’s a small class, 12 students, so we got close and enjoyed learning the material together.

Also excited about:

Computer Science. I want to learn as much as I can about artificial intelligence, robotics, parallel computing. I love the research I’m doing, working to get a robot to recognize human gestures.

Favorite study spot:

The new CRoCHET Lab – Collaborative Robotics and Computer-Human Empirical Testing, where we keep all of our robots. It’s a great big space in the Wold Building with a 3D printer and comfy couches.

Three things you’re passionate about at Union:

Break Dance Club (I'm president).

Campus Kitchens, which makes meals for the City Mission from campus leftovers (I just took over as president).

The professors. You can always talk to them, and not strictly about academics.

Other passions:

Food justice. For three years in high school, I worked with other teenagers on The Food Project, a nonprofit that’s about sustainable agriculture, eating healthy, farming policies and hunger relief.

One way I'm making Union better:

I’m trying to initiate a "maker's space"– a space on campus where people can make things and use their creativity, whether it's woodworking or knitting. I’m also organizing a dance event to bring different groups together – break dance, classical Indian, popping – for workshops and performances.

Looking into the future:

Grad school or working – my dream job would be to work at Google.

Advice for incoming students:

Take advantage of all the resources Union offers. Get involved. Learn things you’ve never been exposed to. I never danced before I came to college.